Childers Group forum details vision for ACT's arts future and funds

By Clare Colley

Trams as mobile public artworks, living wages to support artists, and the need for an Indigenous multi-arts centre.

All sorts of suggestions came out of a packed forum at the Gorman Arts Centre looking at future arts priorities in the lead up to the 2016 ACT election.

Opposition arts spokesperson Brendan Smyth said the Canberra Museum and Gallery was too small and not fit for purpose at a forum into the future of arts in the ACT.

Photo: Melissa Adams

But arts funding remained the key concern and none of the ACT MLCs present committed to an increase if elected.

The forum, hosted by arts advocacy organisation, The Childers Group, on Wednesday night brought together a panel of movers and shakers of the ACT art world with newly-appointed Arts Minister Chris Bourke, Greens arts spokesperson Shane Rattenbury and opposition arts spokesperson Brendan Smyth.

Mr Smyth said arts funding had gone backwards in the ACT over the past decade and a discussion was needed at a grassroots level to fix the problem.

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But he didn't commit to increasing the territory's arts spend, instead saying it was up to governments to create the right environment for artists to thrive and contribute more to the economy, a sentiment Mr Rattenbury agreed with.

But Mr Smyth said the territory was underperforming when compared to national averages, with the arts accounting for about 8 per cent of national employment.

Panellist, author Paul Daley, questioned why the ACT arts fund had not been increased beyond CPI since 2005, despite a growth in the arts' contribution to the economy.

Mr Bourke said the government was going through the budgetary process, but further leverage could be gained from local businesses to boost the arts – he cited making light rail carriages "moving pieces of public art" to showcase work of local artists as an example.

Mr Rattenbury said the ACT government budget was under pressure, but had to make decisions about whether it was better to fund capital infrastructure, such as an extension to the Belconnen Arts Centre, or provide money for individual projects to support artists.

Mr Smyth said the ACT was in need of more infrastructure and was without a state library, theatre or gallery.

"I think CMAG is fabulous, but it's too small and doesn't serve the purpose," he said.

Another panellist, visual artist Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, questioned why the ACT was the only jurisdiction without a dedicated indigenous multi-arts centre and called for its inclusion at the Kingston Arts Precinct.

The future of the much-anticipated arts precinct was also questioned by Mr Smyth who said he feared the residential developments planned for the area would become too expensive for the artists using its "marvellous facilities".